Had a storm in Joliet? How to check for hail damage, file an insurance claim, and get your roof replaced.
After a hail storm in Joliet, the damage to a roof is often invisible from the ground. This guide explains what to look for, how hail affects the kinds of roofs found in Joliet, and how the insurance process works.
Joliet homes at a glance
Joliet is the Will County seat and one of the oldest cities in the area, so one job can be a limestone-trimmed foursquare near the Cathedral Area and the next a 2004 two-story off Caton Farm Road. Few towns we work in have that much range in a single zip code.
Older Joliet roofs are often steep, cut up with dormers and laid on plank decking instead of plywood. That takes more labor and more care at the valleys than a simple ranch roof.
How hail affects different Joliet roofs
Near downtown, the Cathedral Area and St. Pat's, steep roofs take hail at a glancing angle on some slopes and square on others, so damage is uneven. Older shingles that have already lost granules bruise more easily, and plank decking under them can let a hard strike crack the shingle mat.
On the west side, in the ranches and Cape Cods built in the 1950s and 1960s, low-pitched roofs take hail almost straight on, which is the worst angle. These roofs are easy to walk and inspect, so there is no reason to guess.
In the far west subdivisions off Caton Farm Road, many still have the original builder shingle, which is thin and now brittle with age. Hail that a new roof would shrug off can end the life of a 20-year-old one. With many slopes facing different directions, at least one usually took the storm directly.
What to check first on a Joliet home
Joliet covers a lot of ground, and a storm that hammers the far west side can miss the east side entirely. Do not assume you are fine because a friend across town is. On older homes near downtown, also check slate-look or layered roofs from the attic side, where cracked decking boards show up as daylight.
What to check from the ground
- Dents in soft metal. Gutters, downspouts, roof vents, mailbox, the fins on the air conditioner.
- Torn window screens and chipped paint on the side the storm came from.
- Granules washed into the gutters and piled at the bottom of downspouts.
- Dings or cracks in siding, especially vinyl.
If you see two or more of these, the roof needs to be looked at up close. Please do not climb up yourself.
What hail damage looks like on shingles
A hail strike knocks granules off and bruises the mat underneath. The spot looks like a dark, round mark and feels soft when pressed, like a bruise on an apple. It may not leak right away. Over the following seasons the exposed asphalt dries out and cracks, and that is when the leaks begin, often after the claim deadline has passed.
How the insurance claim works
- Get an inspection. We inspect for free and photograph every slope.
- File the claim. You call your insurer and report the storm date. Many policies set a deadline for filing, often one year from the storm, so check yours.
- Adjuster meeting. We meet the adjuster on your roof and walk through what we documented.
- Scope and approval. We review the insurer's estimate so it includes everything the roof needs to be replaced properly.
- Replacement. On an approved claim your cost is normally your deductible plus any upgrades you choose.
Be careful with out-of-town crews that knock on doors after a storm. Our post on storm chasers vs local contractors explains what to watch for.
Permits in Joliet
Permit rules are set by the City of Joliet. We check what your project needs and pull the permit when one is required. See our Joliet page for this service, or the same guide for Plainfield, or the same guide for Lockport.
Common questions
Call (331) 250-3726 or request a free consultation in Joliet.